CH718618A2 - Watch provided with a control member making it possible to activate a function varying according to a time slot in which said control member is activated. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch (10) with analog display comprising an electronic watch movement comprising at least one electric motor (13, 14) adapted to drive display hands (15, 16) in rotation by means of cogs, and comprising an integrated circuit (17) connected to said motor and to a control member (18), the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to control the electric motor (13, 14) to perform a function of the watch movement when the control member (18) is requested by the user, the function performed varying according to the time slot in which said control member is requested.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular electromechanical watches, that is to say comprising electronic watch movements, with analog display.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a watch provided with a control member making it possible to activate a function varying according to a time range in which it is requested.

Technology background

[0003] Watches are known comprising a watch movement, a control member of which activates an auxiliary function of the watch movement, for example a chronograph.

[0004] In this example, the control member is formed by one or more push buttons making it possible to start the rotation of a minute and/or seconds hand, for the measurement of a time range.

[0005] Other functions can be exercised by other control devices, such as buttons or a crown, for example setting the time or calendars, setting the time of alarm clocks, time zones , etc.

[0006] There are watches comprising a control member adapted, depending on the position it occupies, to activate various functions of the watch movement.

[0007] This solution advantageously makes it possible to be able to reduce the number of control members of the watch, while allowing the watch to offer a user the use of several functions.

[0008] However, the selection of functions can be relatively long and complex, and consequently inconvenient for the user.

[0009] There is a need to be able to provide a watch movement with several functions meeting user needs, and the selection of which is carried out by the same control member in a very simple and rapid manner.

Summary of the invention

The invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a solution making it possible to provide a watch with several functions, the activation of which varies according to the time slot during which a single control member is used.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a watch with analog display comprising an electronic watch movement comprising at least one electric motor adapted to drive the display hands in rotation by means of cogwheels, and comprising an integrated circuit connected to said motor and to a control device.

[0012] The integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the electric motor to perform a function of the watch movement when the control member is requested by the user, the function performed varying according to the time slot in which said control member is requested.

In other words, the integrated circuit is programmed so as to drive the electric motor to perform a different function depending on the time slot in which said control member is requested. The functions that can be performed by the watch are respectively attached to different time slots from each other.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured so that the actuation of the control member activates a first function when the control member is acted upon during a first time slot, and activates a second distinct function. of the first function when the control device is requested during a second time slot.

[0016] In particular embodiments, the time slots follow each other so that their sum is equal to 24 hours.

[0017] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured to drive the electric motor continuously, as long as the control member is stressed.

[0018] In particular embodiments, the watch comprises a dial comprising a zone of interest intended to be visible to a user, the integrated circuit being configured so as to drive the electric motor to pivot at least one of the hands when the the control member is activated during a first predefined time slot and that said hand is opposite the zone of interest, so as to shift said hand from said zone of interest until it reaches a temporary position, for a predetermined display duration, then so as to drive it to a final position corresponding to the position that said hand would have occupied, at the end of the display duration, if it had not been moved.

[0019] In particular embodiments, the watch comprises a first electric motor kinematically connected to an hour hand, and a second electric motor kinematically connected to a minute hand, the integrated circuit being configured so as to drive the second motor electric to pivot the minute hand when the control member is activated during the first time slot and the minute hand is facing the zone of interest.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the integrated circuit is configured so that when the minute hand reaches the temporary position, it is driven in an alternating rotational movement over a predefined angular sector.

In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the electric motor to interrupt, from the start of a second predefined time slot, the stroke of at least one of the hands, and to drive said motor to restart the stroke of said hand, if the control member is activated during said second time slot.

[0022] In particular embodiments, the watch comprises a first electric motor kinematically connected to the hour hand, and a second electric motor kinematically connected to the minute and/or second hand. The integrated circuit is configured so as to control the second electric motor to interrupt, from the start of the second time slot, the race of the minute and/or seconds hand, and to control said second electric motor to restart the race of said minute and/or second hand, if the control member is activated during said second time slot.

[0023] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the second electric motor to interrupt the stroke of the minute and/or seconds hand, during the second time range, if the electric accumulator has a state of charge below a predetermined threshold.

[0024] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured to drive the second electric motor in order to restart the stroke of the minute and/or second hand for a predetermined period.

[0025] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the second electric motor to interrupt the travel of the minute and/or second hand when the control member is activated, after said stroke of the minutes and/or seconds hand has been restarted.

[0026] In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured so as to drive the second electric motor to restart the stroke of the minute and/or seconds hand when the control member is kept under pressure, and to interrupting said race as soon as the actuation of the control member ceases.

In particular embodiments, the integrated circuit is configured to control the second electric motor on the basis of instructions resulting from the processing by automatic learning of data stored in a storage unit and representative of the solicitation habits of the user control device.

[0028] In particular embodiments, the watch comprises a single control member.

[0029] In particular embodiments, the control member is a push-piece crown.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents, in block diagram, partially a watch according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0031] In the present description, all the components of an electromechanical watch with analog display, as well as their arrangement, which are well known to those skilled in the art, are only described in a simplified manner.

As visible schematically and partially in Figure 1, the watch 10 according to the present invention comprises a case to which are attached a crystal superimposed on a dial 11 and a bottom together defining an internal volume. In this internal volume is housed an electric accumulator 12 intended to supply energy, by means of an electronic circuit, at least one electric motor 13, 14 making it possible to rotate the hour 15 and minute display hands. 16, and possibly seconds (not shown in the figures), via gear trains.

The electronic circuit further comprises, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, a quartz oscillator associated with an integrated circuit 17, for example formed by a microcontroller, to which is connected a control member 18 intended to be manipulated by a user.

In a manner known to those skilled in the art, the integrated circuit 17 knows the current time and the angular position of each of the hands, and is adapted to drive a first electric motor 13 kinematically connected to the hour hand 15 , and a second electric motor 14 at least kinematically connected to the minute hand 16, and optionally to a second hand. The first and second electric motors 13 and 14 are independent of each other and make it possible to move the hour hand 15 independently of that of the minutes 16, and possibly of that of the seconds.

The control member 18 is preferably single, and can be formed by any component suitable for this purpose, for example by a rotating bezel, a push button, a touch surface of the case or glass.

Preferably, the control member 18 corresponds to a crown, for example with a pusher, forming a time-setting crown.

Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so that the actuation of the control member 18 allows the performance of a function by controlling one and/or the other of the electric motors 13 and 14, said function varying according to the time range in which said control member 18 is requested.

In other words, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so that the function performed following the request of the control member 18 is not the same depending on the time at which said member is requested.

The term “function” is understood in this text to mean any auxiliary function of the watch movement, that is to say any function other than that of indicating the current time.

This characteristic advantageously makes it possible, with a single control device 18, to respond, by activating said function, to a user need likely to change over time, and more particularly according to the time. of the day.

In other words, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so that the control member 18 allows, successively over time, the performance of at least two distinct functions.

[0042] The term “request” means the performance of a physical action, such as pressure, pushing, pulling, etc., on the part of the user on the control member 18.

Examples of functions are described below by way of non-limiting examples. Indeed, the present invention may comprise alternatively or in addition, other functions not described, which can be implemented by the solicitation of the control member 18, in time slots which are specific to them.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so that the actuation of the control member 18 activates a first function when the control member 18 is acted upon during a first time slot. , and activates a second function distinct from the first function when the control member 18 is requested during a second time slot.

[0045] Preferably, the time slots come one after the other continuously, in the sense that the actuation of the control member 18 always causes a function to be performed.

[0046] Preferably, the time slots follow each other so that their sum is equal to 24 hours.

More particularly, the first time slot is preferably representative of the length of the day and the second time slot is representative of the length of the night.

[0048] In particular, the first time slot can be defined between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., that is to say 5 AM and 10 PM, and the second time slot can be defined between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. i.e. 10 PM and 5 AM.

For the implementation of the example of the first function during the first time slot, the watch 10 according to the invention comprises, on the dial 11, a zone of interest 19 intended to be visible to a user, such as a window or an auxiliary dial. An auxiliary dial can be a chronograph counter, a dial indicating the seconds, a date, a moon phase, etc.

[0050] Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to drive the first and/or the second motor 13 and 14 to pivot the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand 16 when the control member 18 is stressed during the first time range and that said hour hand 15 and/or minute hand 16 is opposite the zone of interest 19, that is to say when it covers at least part of the zone of interest 19.

[0051] When it is in this position, called the "initial position", the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hand is capable of masking the zone of interest 19 from the view of the user.

The pivoting of the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hand is performed at a given angle, so as to shift said hand from the zone of interest 19 to a so-called "temporary position", in order to to allow the visibility of said zone to the user.

This angle can be predefined by the integrated circuit 17. For example, the angle can be equal to at least 30 degrees.

Alternatively, the hour hand 15 and/or minute hand 16 can be pivoted so as to drive it to a predefined location, for example so that said hand indicates a particular time. The angle of pivoting is then variable according to the initial position of the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand 16.

Additionally, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so that when the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand 16 reaches the temporary position, it is driven in an alternating rotational movement over a predefined angular sector. . In other words, once the temporary position has been reached, the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hand can be rotated in a back and forth motion around said temporary position. For example, the angular sector can be 30 degrees, the temporary position being located in the middle of said angular sector so that the travel of the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hand is 15 degrees on either side of said temporary position.

This characteristic makes it possible to inform the user of the temporary nature of the temporary position of the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand 16.

Preferably, when the zone of interest 19 is neither masked by the hour hand 15 nor by the minute hand 16, the actuation of the control member 18 has no effect.

It is conceivable that the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to control only the second motor 14 to pivot only the minute hand 16, and possibly that of the seconds, when the control member 18 is requested and that said minute hand 16, or that of the seconds, is opposite the zone of interest 19.

Thus, the actuation of the control member 18 during the first time slot can cause the rotation of the minute hand 16 and that of the hour 15, concomitantly or independently of each other, depending on their position. relative to area of interest 19.

[0060] Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 is configured to drive the first and/or the second electric motor 13 or 14 in order to pivot the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hands, when they are in a temporary position, until 'to a final position, after a predetermined duration called „display duration“ hereafter.

The display duration can be a few seconds, for example 5 seconds.

The final position advantageously corresponds to the position that the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hand would have occupied, at the end of the display period, if they had not been shifted.

In other words, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to drive the first and/or the second electric motor 13 or 14 to pivot the hour 15 and/or minute 16 hands in order to indicate the current time, at the end of the display time.

[0064] The integrated circuit 17 can be configured to control the first and/or the second electric motor 13 or 14, as described above, following a one-off request from the control member 18 during the first time slot, or else , in one embodiment of the invention, to control the first or the second electric motor 13 or 14 continuously, as long as the control member 18 is stressed, so as to cause the continuous movement of the needle of the 15 hours and/or 16 minutes.

[0065] In other words, in this last embodiment, the angle at which the hand is pivoted and/or the display duration may correspond with the duration of the actuation of the control member 18.

It is also conceivable in another embodiment of the invention, that the actuation of the control member 18 causes the pivoting of the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand 16 to its temporary position. , and maintaining it in this position as long as the control member 18 is stressed.

In this embodiment of the invention, as soon as the actuation of the control member 18 ceases, the first and/or the second electric motor 13 or 14 drive the hour hand 15 and/or the minute hand. 16 to their final position, on the instruction of the integrated circuit 17.

[0068] In this way, the user can control the travel of the movement of the needles and/or its duration.

In summary of the above, the integrated circuit 17 can advantageously be configured so as to activate the previously described function of shifting at least one needle located opposite a zone of interest 19, in order to allow the visibility of said zone, when the hands indicate a current time included in the first time range and when the control member 18 is activated.

The integrated circuit 17 can advantageously be configured so as to activate, on request of the control member 18 during the second time slot, another function such as in accordance with the example described below.

Advantageously, for the implementation of the example of the second function, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to control the second electric motor 14 to interrupt systematically, from the start of the second time slot and throughout its duration, the course of the seconds hand, if the watch 10 has a seconds hand, and/or the course of the minute hand 16.

[0072] Alternatively, the integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to drive the second electric motor 14 to interrupt the stroke of the minute 16 and/or second hand, during the second time slot, only when the electric accumulator 12 has a state of charge below a predetermined threshold.

This state of charge of the electric accumulator 12 is representative of the end of life of said electric accumulator 12. It goes without saying that the integrated circuit 17 is adapted to continuously know the state of charge of the electric accumulator 12, for example by any means within the reach of those skilled in the art.

[0074] The integrated circuit 17 is configured so as to control the second electric motor 14, following the request of the control member 18 during the second time slot, to restart the stroke of the minute hand 16 and/or seconds so that they respectively indicate the minutes and/or seconds of the current time.

More particularly, the minute 16 and/or second hand return, preferably temporarily, to a display position in which they respectively indicate the minutes and/or the seconds of the current time at the instant when the control member 18 is requested.

This characteristic advantageously makes it possible to achieve a substantial saving in electrical energy, and consequently to extend the life of the electric accumulator 12, while allowing the user to be able to have access to a level of precision of reading of the current time more importantly, when it wishes, by restarting the stroke of the minute 16 and/or second hand by simply pressing the control member 18.

[0077] Advantageously, it is possible that the integrated circuit 17 be configured to control the second electric motor 14 in order to restart the stroke of the minute 16 and/or second hand for a predetermined duration called "display duration". below.

[0078] The display duration can be a few seconds, for example 30 seconds.

Alternatively, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so as to drive the second electric motor 14 to restart the rotation of the minute 16 and/or second hand until the current time reaches the start of the next second time slot.

[0080] Still alternatively, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so as to drive the second electric motor 14 to interrupt the travel of the minute 16 and/or second hand when the control member 18 is activated, after said stroke of the minute 16 and/or second hand has been restarted. Thus, following a first actuation of the control member 18, the second electric motor 14 drives the needle(s) in rotation so that their stroke is restarted, then when the control member 18 is acted on a second time, the stroke of the hand(s) is interrupted.

[0081] Still alternatively, it can be envisaged that the integrated circuit 17 be configured so as to drive the second electric motor 14 to restart the stroke of the minute 16 and/or second hand only as long as the control member 18 is kept biased, and to interrupt their race as soon as the bias of the control member 18 ceases.

[0082] Advantageously, the integrated circuit 17 can, in addition, be configured to control the second electric motor 14 on the basis of instructions resulting from the processing by automatic learning of data representative of the habits of solicitation of the control member 18 of the user. The data is stored in a storage unit.

[0083] More specifically, these data correspond to the number of requests made to the control member 18 in the second time slot, the integrated circuit 17 being configured to inhibit the interruption of the stroke of the hand(s) if the user requests the control member 18 a number of successive times greater than a predefined value.

[0084] Advantageously, the data may also relate to the time at which each request takes place. Thus, the integrated circuit 17 can be configured so as to restart the running of the minute 16 and/or seconds hand for a predefined period of time, for example a few tens of seconds, a few minutes or a few hours, during the second time slot, depending on the time or the period of time in which the user is accustomed to requesting the control device 18.

These characteristics advantageously make it possible to anticipate the stresses of the control member 18, and thus to anticipate the needs of the user.

Claims (16)

1. Watch (10) with analog display comprising an electronic watch movement comprising at least one electric motor (13, 14) adapted to drive display hands (15, 16) in rotation via gear trains, and comprising a integrated circuit (17) connected to said motor and to a control member (18), the watch (10) being characterized in that the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive the electric motor (13, 14) to perform a function of the watch movement when the control member (18) is requested by the user, the function performed varying according to the time range in which said control member is requested. 2. Watch (10) according to claim 1, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so that the actuation of the control member (18) activates a first function when the control member (18) is acted upon. during a first time slot, and activates a second function distinct from the first function when the control member (18) is activated during a second time slot. 3. Watch (10) according to claims 1 or 2, in which the time slots follow each other so that their sum is equal to 24 hours. 4. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured to drive the electric motor (13, 14) continuously, as long as the control member (18) is requested. 5. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a dial (11) comprising a zone of interest (19) intended to be visible to a user, the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to drive the electric motor (13, 14) to pivot at least one of the hands (15, 16) when the control member (18) is acted upon during a first predefined time range and when said hand is facing the area of interest (19), so as to shift said needle from said area of interest (19) until it reaches a temporary position, for a predetermined display duration, then so as to drive it until a final position corresponding to the position that said hand would have occupied, at the end of the display duration, if it had not been moved. 6. Watch (10) according to claim 5, comprising a first electric motor (13) kinematically connected to an hour hand (15), and a second electric motor (14) kinematically connected to a minute hand (16), the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to drive the second electric motor (14) to pivot the minute hand (16) when the control member (18) is acted upon during the first time range and the minute hand minutes (16) is opposite the area of interest (19). 7. Watch according to claim 6, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so that when the minute hand (16) reaches the temporary position, it is driven in an alternating rotational movement over a predefined angular sector. . 8. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive the electric motor (13, 14) to interrupt, from the start of a second time slot predefined, the stroke of at least one of the needles (16), and to drive said motor to restart the stroke of said needle (16), if the control member (18) is activated during said second time slot. 9. Watch (10) according to claim 8, comprising a first electric motor (13) kinematically connected to an hour hand (15), and a second electric motor (14) kinematically connected to a minute hand (16) and/ or seconds, the integrated circuit (17) being configured so as to drive the second electric motor (14) to interrupt, from the start of the second time slot, the stroke of the minute hand (16) and/or seconds, and to drive said second electric motor (14) to restart the stroke of said minute (16) and/or seconds hand, if the control member (18) is activated during said second time slot. 10. Watch (10) according to claim 9, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive the second electric motor (14) to interrupt the travel of the minute (16) and/or second hand , during the second time slot, if the electric accumulator (12) has a state of charge below a predetermined threshold. 11. Watch (10) according to one of Claims 9 or 10, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured to drive the second electric motor (14) in order to restart the stroke of the minute hand (16) and /or seconds for a predetermined duration. 12. Watch (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive the second electric motor (14) to interrupt the travel of the minute hand (16) and/or seconds when the control member (18) is activated, after said stroke of the minute (16) and/or second hand has been restarted. 13. Watch (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured so as to drive the second electric motor (14) to restart the stroke of the minute hand (16) and/or seconds when the control member (18) is kept stressed, and to interrupt said stroke as soon as the stress on the control member (18) ceases. 14. Watch (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the integrated circuit (17) is configured to control the second electric motor (14) on the basis of instructions resulting from the processing by automatic learning of stored data in a storage unit and representative of the habits of solicitation of the control member (18) of the user. 15. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a single control member (18). 16. Watch (10) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the control member (18) is a push-piece crown.